Chapter 25 Sunday, Nov. 1 – 1:30 am

She was asleep. Her slow breathing and the relaxed features of her face confirmed that. Very quietly so as not to disturb her, Liam slid his hand away from her face, picked up the cloth that had been on her forehead, and slipped out the door.

The party was still going on full swing. Liam glanced around, catching Malcolm's attention, and signaled for him to join him in the kitchen. "How is she?" Malcolm asked.

"She's asleep, but I want to put some more ice on her forehead to keep the swelling down. She's gonna have a nasty bruise."

"Flora said Roarke can have some more of the headache potion when she wakes up, so hopefully that will help."

Liam nodded and waited, not really knowing what else he should say. When Malcolm didn't say anything, Liam knew it was up to him to offer the apology. "Look, I'm really sorry about all this. I feel so badly that she got hurt like that."

"And I hope you realize that I honestly didn't know she would be here."

"I know. She told me it was a last minute thing."

"I was only trying to be friendly."

Liam smiled. "Well, if it's any consolation...I'm glad I came."

Malcolm squinted at him. "What did Roarke tell you in there? Or is that none of my business?"

Liam gave a soft laugh. "She er...accepted my apology." Liam wasn't the sort to blush easily, but considering who he was talking to, it couldn't be helped. "You know."

Malcolm nodded.

"If you don't mind," Liam said, "I'd like to stay with her a while longer."

"No, why don't you go back in and take her some more ice. I'll finish up with the rest of the guests and come in later so you can go get some sleep."

"You're kidding, right?" Tarquin said from behind them. "You're not seriously going to let him back in there with her, are you?"

"Yes I was," Malcolm replied. "Someone needs to keep an eye on her tonight."

"Then let me go in. That way you'll know she won't be taken advantage of."

"Excuse me?" Liam scowled. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I don't think you can be trusted to be alone with her too long!"

"And what precisely do you think I will do to her?"

"If I have to explain it to you, then you are more dense than I thought."

"Now listen," Liam said pointing a finger at Tarquin, "I would never do what you are suggesting. Not to Roarke or any woman for that matter!"

"No, you would just trick them into believing you care about them, then stomp all over their heart and toss it aside once you've got what you want!"

"Tarquin," Malcolm interrupted, "that's enough."

"I can't believe you're taking his side!" Tarquin said in a rage. "You've seen how miserable she's been because of this bastard. How can you just let him have at her again?"

"Because I know a few things that you don't."

"Like what?"

"Things that are none of your business!" Liam interjected.

Tarquin took a step closer to Liam. A few random guests looked in the direction of the kitchen, some with interest, others with awkward embarrassment. "Roarke made this my business when she came to me with her problems. I was there for her! And where were you? Taking care of yourself!"

"You think I don't care about her?" Liam shouted back.

"It's pretty damned clear that you don't! I think you are here to just get what you want from her. And unfortunately, she's willing to give it!"

"You better watch your mouth, Bludger boy. I don't like the way you talk about her!"

Tarquin's eyes blazed. "I've known her a hell of a lot longer than you have."

"So?" Liam shrugged. "Being friends with her brother hasn't made you an expert on what she wants out of life."

"Neither has lying to her just for a good snog!" Tarquin said pointedly as the room went quite.

Liam glared at Tarquin. "I have apologized to her – not that it's any of your business. What has happened and what will happen is between Roarke and me!"

"After the torture you've put her though, I can't even believe that she would want you back!"

"And yet, that is for her to decide! Besides, I seem to recall that she asked for me to stay with her just now, not you!"

"She doesn't need you, Werewolf!" Tarquin roared.

Liam pursed his lips, waiting for more insults. But it was Malcolm who spoke next.

"What?"

A mix of fear and worry crossed Tarquin's face as he considered what he just said. The tension in the air was thick. Forcing a calm voice, Tarquin repeated, "I said she doesn't need you."

"You left something out." Tarquin's eyes flashed to Malcolm, who looked utterly disappointed. "I think you should go, Tarquin," he said softly.

"Malcolm, you know what I meant."

"What I know is that we have all had a stressful night and probably a little too much to drink. I really think you need to go home and calm down."

"Malcolm...I..." he licked his lips. "Liam and your father are two very different people."

"Just go."

Tarquin shot a nasty glance at Liam before he gathered up the hat and eye patch from his costume he had taken off, never saying another word. Liam released a deep breath and looked over at Malcolm who was rubbing his eyes.

"Stars, what a mess," he mumbled. Emily came up behind him and rubbed his back.

"I should go, too," Liam offered.

"No, just..." Malcolm looked around at the rest of his friends. The party had basically come to a stop during the argument and now, thanks to Tarquin's announcement, all eyes were on Liam. "Go in and make sure Roarke is all right. I'll clean up in here and be in to check on her in just a minute."

Liam nodded and headed for the bedroom where Roarke was sleeping. The crowd parted, jumping out of his way. He wasn't sure if they were just making way for him or if they pitied him for Tarquin's slur. Some might even be reacting out of fear. Liam noticed that Belinda, the witch who had flirted with him earlier, avoided looking directly at him.

Liam slipped inside the bedroom and closed the door as quietly as he could manage. His gaze fell on Roarke's sleeping form, her face peaceful and relaxed. Liam sighed and looked away, lost in thought. She doesn't need you, Werewolf! Tarquin had said it perfectly – had figured it out. It was the very point Liam tried to make to Roarke only a few moments ago. How long would it take her to reach the same conclusion as Tarquin?

The bitter cold of the ice wrapped in the cloth pierced his hand, snapping Liam out of his thoughts. He tiptoed over to Roarke's side, pulled up the chair from the corner of the room, and sat down next to her. He placed the cold cloth on her forehead gently and traced the side of her face with his fingertips. For five hard months he'd dreamt of this face and wondered if he would ever have the gift of seeing her again.

She really is beautiful.

She shifted in her sleep, making Liam jump slightly. Her arm worked its way out from under the blankets as she turned on her side. Liam pressed the cloth to her forehead so that it wouldn't fall. Without opening her eyes, Roarke reached up and took Liam's hand in hers. She snuggled into the covers and pulled her hand, still grasping Liam's, against her body.

Liam didn't move. He sat very still, waiting to see if Roarke would let go or wake up or just remain asleep. She had his hand tucked tightly against her, so he couldn't really pull away without disturbing her. After a few minutes, once Liam was sure Roarke would stay asleep, he adjusted his own chair and sat back to relax. Her hand was soft and her body was warm where she held on to him.

He let his mind wonder over all the wonderful moments they had shared in the past, longing for the chance to experience a few more. He closed his eyes and thought of how he almost lost her earlier that evening. Not wanting to dwell on that moment, he pushed the thought aside and focused on the kiss they shared instead. His hand tightened in hers as his mind drifted further away and sleep over took him. He never even noticed the door crack open a few minutes later when Malcolm popped his head in.

Sunday, Nov. 1 – 7:12 am

The cloudy haze of sleep lifted from Roarke's mind as she drifted into consciousness. She stretched her legs out and felt a stiffness in her back. In spite of the ache in her head, she blinked open her eyes and focused on the form in front of her. Liam slept slouched over in a chair next to the bed. He didn't look especially comfortable with his head cocked to one side, but Roarke couldn't suppress the grin that broke over her face at seeing him. Very lightly, she reached out and tapped his arm, waking him up.

He yawned and stretched smiled back at her. Leaning forward, he ran his fingers over the cut on her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore. My back hurts."

"Yeah, I'm not surprised. How's your head?"

"I have a headache."

Liam nodded and traced her hairline. "You look a bit of a mess, too, I'm afraid."

Roarke sat up to peer at herself in the bedroom mirror, and moaned. "Brilliant. Two black eyes. I got hit with a Bludger once and the same thing happened. I was hideous for days."

"Impossible," Liam countered. "You will never be hideous."

Their eyes met and they just looked at each other for a moment. "What time is it?" Roarke asked, stretching her arms again.

"Not sure." Liam glanced around and spotted Malcolm's clock. "Just after seven. I wonder why he let me stay."

"Hum?"

"Your brother. He said he would be in to check on you. I kind of got the impression that he didn't want me staying here all night."

"Maybe you just fell asleep and he didn't want to wake you up."

"Could be," Liam replied. He took Roarke's hand in his, running the finger of his other hand gently up her forearm. There was a long pause as the two of them just sat there. Liam lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "I'm glad you're all right."

"And I'm glad you stayed with me." Silence filled the room yet again, leaving Roarke feeling quite awkward.

"Liam, I think that we..."

"Look, Roarke we should..."

They stopped and laughed. "You go first," Liam offered.

"But now I'm worried about what you were going to say."

"So, you want me to go first?" Liam asked?

"No, because I have a feeling you're about to tell me that we need to call this off – that it will never work, and that's not what I want."

Liam sat up and opened his mouth ready to say something, but Roarke stopped him. "Please, let me finish." She shifted, pushing up onto her elbow. "I don't think we can just ignore everything that's happened, and start over as if there were never any problems, but I don't want to give up on it either. I think we need to...in a way...start over. Reacquaint ourselves with each other. A lot has happened in my life since you left, and you..." her eyes fell to their clasped hands. "I've been so worried about you and how things were going for you at home." She looked back up into his eyes. "Do you think that's possible? Do you think we can try to start over, or is that too naive of me?"

"I wasn't going to call it off. I just need to make sure you really understand." His eyes were intense.

"Understand what?"

Liam pursed his lips and rubbed at Roarke's hand nervously. "I don't know how to word it without sounding like an idiot."

"I won't think you're an idiot. I promise."

He licked his lips worriedly and avoided looking into her eyes. "Starting over sounds great. That's what I want, too. But I don't know if I can...ignore...the fact that I...that I'm in love with you."

Roarke pushed herself up the rest of the way. She felt a bit more confidant knowing that Liam didn't want to end their relationship. "I don't want you to ignore how you feel, because I feel it, too."

"But Roarke -"

"All I'm saying is that we need to take a step back and relearn how to be with one another. I spent so many months trying to convince myself that you didn't love me that my mind needs time to adjust to the fact that you do. If that makes any sense."

Liam met her eyes, a pained look on his face. "But see. I'm...worried...because..." He looked away again, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "I can't be near you. The more I'm...with you..." he looked up, "the harder it will be."

Roarke bit at her bottom lip contemplating what he was trying to say. "You're talking about the lycanthropy?" It was more of a question than a statement. Liam frowned, distressed by the mention of his condition. Trying to offer some comfort, Roarke said, "Liam, I know what you mean."

"Really? Because I didn't." The comment left Roarke puzzled. "I didn't realize exactly what it was until I was away from you."

"What do you mean?"

Liam rubbed his eyes. "You talk about starting over, Rory. Taking a step back. And here I am telling you that I don't know how well that will work." His face grew very serious. "Your father told me something a long time ago. I didn't think much of it at the time. In fact, I laughed at him for it. I mean, it's embarrassing and it just seemed...stupid at the time. And you must understand that I don't like to verbalize my feelings in animalistic terms. So when he said it, I really got annoyed."

"You mean," Roarke started, "when he refers to lycanthropy as 'the wolf'?"

"Yeah, that's it exactly. I don't like to talk about it that way. But in this case, there isn't any other way to word it."

"Then why don't you just tell me what it was that he said and we will go from there."

Liam rubbed his hands on his knees, his shoulders tense. "He said – he said - " Liam took a deep breath and very quickly spit it out. "He said that mating is more than just sex."

The comment hung in the air as Roarke contemplated what it meant. Liam was looking at her very intensely. Mating...werewolves mate for life. And if mating is more than sex, and Liam is worried about being close to me...

Liam shook his head. "Just forget I mentioned it."

"No. Will...I understand." He looked into her eyes, startled at being called by the old nick name. "And I agree."

"I just don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you into any thing."

"You're not. In fact," Roarke blushed, "I was the one forcing you to kiss me last night."

"Oh yes, and that was such a horrid thing to be forced into," he teased.

She chuckled lightly and took hold of his hands. "I do understand. This is what I want, Will."

He smiled slightly and leaned in to kiss her mouth. She let him briefly before putting a hand up to stop him from doing anything more serious. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She smiled with her lips closed and pointed to her mouth.

"Oh," Liam said realizing what she meant. "This again? I'm going to keep breath mints next to the bed so I can kiss you when I want to in the mornings!"

Roarke couldn't resist the jab. "And what makes you think I will be next to you in the mornings?"

Liam leaned over the bed, bringing his face and body very close to hers. "What makes me think that?" He looked down at her mouth and kissed her deeply without warning. Roarke sighed against him, wrapping her arms around his chest and pulling him close. They broke apart and Liam pressed his forehead against hers gently. "That is my proof."

"Pretty convincing."

"I think so." They kissed again, tenderly. "Now, are you hungry?" Liam asked rather out of the blue. "Because I'm starving!"

Roarke laughed. "As a matter of fact, I am."

"Then why don't I go out and see if Malcolm has anything to eat. Besides, it's probably a good idea for him to see that I'm not in here taking advantage of you, as I have been accused of that just recently."

"But what if I want to be taken advantage of?"

Liam smiled fully. "That may be the case, but I'm not really in the mood to face an angry older brother this morning."

He kissed her once more and left the room with a promise of returning shortly. Roarke sighed and flopped back against the bed feeling very warm inside. They still had a long way to go, but she was content to know that Liam loved her as much as she loved him, and that they would work together to solve any problems that came their way. Of course, the first problem they would have face would be her father. He would certainly have a few things to say about all this. But that could wait. For now, all Roarke wanted was to enjoy the morning with Liam...and just be.